1. REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION FEBRUARY 28, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM, #1101 301 W 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Ethics Review Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public Speakers: Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. If participating remotely by telephone, a speaker must register no later than noon the day before the meeting. To register to speak remotely, contact Lizette Benitez at (512) 974-2915 or lizette.benitez@austintexas.gov. Vice-Chair Mary Kahle Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams Haksoon Andrea Low Alysa Nuñez Edward Espinoza William Ross Pumfrey District 2 – Vacancy CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Chair Luis Soberon Amy Casto Michael Lovins District 1 – Vacancy CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA There is no limit on the number of speakers who may speak on agenda items. There is a limit on the number of speakers who may speak on items not posted on the agenda—only the first ten speakers who register prior to the meeting being called to order will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address non-agenda items. For more information on public communication, please see the “Notice Regarding Public Communication” at the end of this agenda. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Consideration, discussion, and potential action regarding: Discussion of existing working groups (Race, Identity, and Equity Working Group, Working Group to Prepare Calendar of Commission Duties and Responsibilities, and 1 2. 3. Working Group to Review ERC Complaints Process), and potential amendments to current working group members. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting on September 27, 2023. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting on December 13, 2023. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Lizette Benitez, Wajiha Rizvi, or Victoria Hayslett at the Law Department, at (512) 974-2268 for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For …
Active Working Groups - 2024 Kahle) • Race, Identity, and Equity Working Group (Consisting of Luis Soberon and Mary • Working Group to Prepare Calendar of Commission Duties and Responsibilities (Consisting of Ngyuen Stanton-Adams) – Creation of WG approved at July 2022 meeting. • Working Group to Review ERC Complaints Process (Consisting of Luis Soberon and Michael Lovins) – Creation of WG approved at August 2022 meeting.
Active Working Groups - 2024 Kahle) • Race, Identity, and Equity Working Group (Consisting of Luis Soberon and Mary • Working Group to Prepare Calendar of Commission Duties and Responsibilities (Consisting of Ngyuen Stanton-Adams) – Creation of WG approved at July 2022 meeting. • Working Group to Review ERC Complaints Process (Consisting of Luis Soberon, Haksoon Andrea Low and Michael Lovins) – Creation of WG approved at August 2022 meeting.
ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2024 The Ethics Review Commission convened in a Regular Commission meeting on February 28, 2024, at City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room #1101, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas and via Videoconference. Chair Luis Soberon called the Ethics Review Commission Meeting to order at 6:14 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Luis Soberon, Vice-Chair Mary Kahle, Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams, and Commissioners Michael Lovins, Haksoon Andrea Low, and William Ross Pumfrey were present at City Hall. Commissioner Edward Espinoza was present remotely, however, due to not having signed the Sovereign Board Attendance and Conflict of Interest form, he will be counted as absent and his votes will be voided. Commissioners Absent: Amy Casto, Edward Espinoza, and Alysa Nuñez. City Staff in Attendance: Lizette Benitez, Staff Liaison; Caroline Webster, Commission Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney; and Victoria Hayslett, Commission Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No one registered to speak during public communication. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Consideration, discussion, and potential action regarding: 1. Discussion of existing working groups (Race, Identity, and Equity Working Group, Working Group to Prepare Calendar of Commission Duties and Responsibilities, and Working Group to Review ERC Complaints Process), and potential amendments to current working group members. Chair Soberon’s motion to formally disband the Race, Identity, and Equity Working Group, was approved on a unanimous vote of all members present. Commissioner Pumfrey seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Chair Soberon, Vice-Chair Kahle, Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Lovins, Low and Pumfrey. Commissioners Casto, Espinoza and Nuñez were absent. 1 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting on September 27, 2023. Vice-Chair Kahle’s motion to adopt the minutes failed on a 5-1 vote of all members present. Commissioner Lovins seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Chair Soberon, Vice-Chair Kahle, and Commissioners Lovins, Low and Pumfrey. Secretary Stanton-Adams abstained and Commissioners Casto, Espinoza and Nuñez were absent. 3. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting on December 13, 2023. Secretary Stanton-Adams’ motion to adopt the minutes failed on a 5-1 vote of all members present. Commissioner Pumfrey seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Vice-Chair Kahle, Secretary Stanton-Adams, and Commissioners Lovins, Low and Pumfrey. Chair Soberon abstained and Commissioners Casto, Espinoza and Nuñez were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Update regarding the prior Candidate Forums surrounding the Austin …
